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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn PA Slide is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Double Wing 23 personnel that sells the run fake before working a slide route concept underneath. The diagram shows a deep crossing route breaking hard from the backfield area up and across the field as the vertical shot option, while a slide route works laterally across the middle underneath as the safety valve, with the offensive line executing play-action pass protection to sell run first. The primary read progression starts with the deep crosser to see if the PA fake bites the linebackers and opens a window, then works down to the underneath slide route as the checkdown against zone drops or if the deep shot is covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth immediately after the snap: shallow linebackers who step up hard on the run fake open the deep crossing route for a big play window. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells pre-snap since the deep crosser can work behind zone drops if the flat defender bites on the play-action. Key on user-controlled defenders sitting in the middle of the field, as a lurking user linebacker or safety can jump the slide route and undercut the underneath throw. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is vulnerable to the deep crosser beating a linebacker in space after the run fake creates separation. Disciplined defenses that stay home on the PA fake with linebackers dropping into zone coverage immediately can take away both the crosser and the slide, forcing a checkdown or scramble.
Usage Tips
Run this from run-heavy personnel and situational down and distance like 2nd and short to sell the play-action fake and freeze linebackers who are keying run fits. Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two deep safeties sitting back in a shell, the deep crossing route may take longer to develop so lean on the slide route as your primary target. Use motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone coverage by watching if a defender follows the motion man across the formation. Pair this play with Mtn HB Dive, Mtn Inside Zone, and QB Power earlier in a series so defenders start biting on run keys, making the PA fake here far more effective. Hot route the slide route runner into a quicker option against aggressive zone blitz teams that bring extra rushers, since the shorter route gets the ball out before pressure arrives.
